The Civil-Military Divide

As a result of the drop in American public support for the war in Iraq, members of the military and their families are feeling increasingly isolated and misunderstood as they bear the brunt for simply carrying out orders. However, this also highlights a divide which has existed between members of America's civil and military establishments since Vietnam. In fact surveys reveal that elite members of civil and military institutions remain suspicious of one another, and continue to harbour strong negative stereotypes about the other. It turns out this has wide-reaching implications for government policy, particularly on the way wars are waged. On Late Night Live we explore the history of this divide and look at how a more coordinated approach to Iraq - one which included greater civilian and even humanitarian input - might have turned out.

Guests

Professor of History and Peace, War and Defence,University of North Carolina

Neil James

Executive Director of the Australia Defence Association

Kristin Henderson

Journalist and author "While They're At War"www.kristinhenderson.com

Sarah Sewall

Director of Carr Centre for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She was the first person to hold the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance in the Clinton